The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has described the proposed 3.3 per cent increase in revenue allocation to the third tier of government as inadequate.
President of ALGON, Kolade Alabi, who spoke during the opening of the National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting/Retreat in Lagos, said the proposed increment by the Federal Government was inadequate compared to the 14 per cent increase demanded by the association.
He noted that the proposal was inadequate to meet the demands of the local councils.
The Alabi-led NEC also advocated harmonisation of the tenure of local council chairmen from three to four years as proposed by the association.
The NEC meeting is meeting on issues of insecurity, primary health care, multiple taxations, the Paris refund, among others.
The Chief of Staff AlGON National Headquarter, Itiako Ikpakpo said the local government plays a pivotal role in the development of the nation as the local governments manage a lot of national development projects most especially in the health and education sector.
“Until the Local governments are developed Nigeria will keep running in circles. The major problem of sustainability of local government is funding, once we get funding right we will get every other thing right.
“So it is important for us to understand that the Local government needs funding and that funding must start from a revenue-sharing formula. We have requested 45.5 percent. The Federal Government must reduce its influence on the things they engage in, there are so many areas in the constitution where they do not need to dabble into,” he said.
He added that the crime rate in the country would reduce if policing and community policing were put in place.
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